Can a woman get pregnant if she is sterilized?

In most cases, a woman who has been sterilized will not be able to get pregnant. However, there is a small chance of pregnancy after sterilization, which is known as a sterilization failure. The risk of sterilization failure varies depending on the type of sterilization procedure that was performed.

Tubal ligation is the most common type of sterilization procedure for women. During a tubal ligation, the fallopian tubes are cut, tied, or blocked so that eggs cannot travel from the ovaries to the uterus. The risk of pregnancy after a tubal ligation is very low, but it is not zero. The risk is highest in the first few months after the procedure, and it decreases over time.

Other types of sterilization procedures for women include hysterectomy, which is the removal of the uterus, and oophorectomy, which is the removal of the ovaries. These procedures are both considered to be 100% effective in preventing pregnancy.

If you are considering sterilization, it is important to talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of the different procedures.